Entrepreneurship Education in South Africa’s Higher Education Institutions:Iin Pursuit of Promoting Self-Reliance in Students

Abstract

Purpose: Entrepreneurship Education (EE) has garnered increased attention in SouthAfrican higher education institutions due to its potential to foster self-reliance and jobcreation in a country grappling with high unemployment rates. This study examinesentrepreneurship education's role in promoting economic development and povertyalleviation in South Africa.Study design/methodology/approach: The study adopts a systematic reviewapproach to explore the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education in addressingunemployment, creating employment opportunities, and fostering economic growthin South Africa. The study seeks to identify key findings and insights regardingintegrating entrepreneurship education into teaching and learning practices in highereducation institutions by synthesising existing literature.Findings: The findings indicate that entrepreneurship education has the potential toaccelerate economic growth, reduce unemployment rates, and alleviate poverty trapsin South Africa. By equipping students with entrepreneurial skills and mindset,entrepreneurship education can empower individuals to establish and sustain smallbusinesses, thus contributing to economic development and poverty reduction.Originality/value: This study contributes to the existing literature by providinginsights into the role of entrepreneurship education in addressing socio-economicchallenges in South Africa. The findings underscore the importance of integratingentrepreneurship education into teaching and learning practices across all highereducation institutions to tackle unemployment and poverty in the country effectively.The study emphasises the need for concerted efforts from stakeholders in highereducation to prioritise entrepreneurship education to foster economic resilience andsocial upliftment in South Africa.